Director: Kinji Fukasaku

With: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Yukihiro Kotani, Takeshi Kitano, Aki Maeda

One of legendary Japanese director Kinji Fukasaku's last films, Battle Royale (2000) is an awesome, ultraviolent near-future tale of a government gone crazy. Each year, officials round up a herd of young teenagers and have them battle each other to the death. It's fitting for the times: the introduction explains that an economic crisis has put millions out of work and driven everyone to desperation. "The adults lost confidence, and fearing the youth, eventually passed the Millennium Educational Reform Act," it continues, which might send a shiver down the odd spine...

The film is based on a novel that Fukasaku said he was attracted to because it reminded him of his days as a 15-year-old munitions factory worker.

Given the levels of gore and the youth of the actors, the film is probably not for everyone, but Fukasaku fans and other adventurous souls shouldn't miss the chance to see it on the big screen. A

Plays at the Clinton Street Theater at 9pm Jan 1 and 2.